MOBILE, Ala. — The South Alabama baseball and softball teams are both in San Marcos, Texas, this weekend for Sun Belt Conference series against Texas State, while the Jaguar football team moved its final spring scrimmage up to Friday morning.
Baseball Meets Texas State for First Time
The South Alabama baseball team faces Texas State for the first time in program history, with the opener set for 6:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s game begins at 3 p.m., and Sunday’s finale starts at 1 p.m.
The Jaguars carry a five-game losing streak and a 13-15 record into the series after midweek losses to Southeastern Louisiana and Southern Miss. South Alabama leads the Sun Belt in sacrifice bunts but ranks last in the conference in hits, runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, doubles and home runs.
Texas State is 17-11 overall and 6-3 in league play and has won two of its last five games. The Bobcats are batting .247 as a team with a 3.70 staff ERA. Texas State is third in the conference standings, while South Alabama is eighth among the league’s 10 teams.
Locke St. John (3-1) will start Friday’s opener and Kevin Hill (2-3) will start game two. The Jaguars have not named a starter for Sunday.
All three games will be broadcast on 105.5 FM WNSP and at WNSP.com.
Unbeaten Softball in Conference Play
The South Alabama softball team plays a doubleheader against Texas State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., then closes the series at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The Jaguars lead the Sun Belt standings at 7-0 in conference play and 29-4 overall. Louisiana-Lafayette (25-6-1) and Western Kentucky (23-10-1) are also unbeaten in league play at 6-0.
Texas State is 19-19 overall and 2-4 in the Sun Belt and has lost four straight games.
Track and Field at Auburn
The South Alabama men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete at the Tiger Classic in Auburn, Ala., on Friday and Saturday, the first of two trips to Auburn this season. While only eight Jaguars competed at the Texas Relays in Austin last week, most of both squads will be in action this weekend.
Friday’s schedule opens with the men’s hammer throw at 2 p.m., followed by the women’s hammer. The javelin, triple jump and 5,000 meters are also set for Friday. Competition resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday, with running events beginning at noon.
Football Changes Final Scrimmage Plans
South Alabama held its annual spring game last Saturday and had planned a final scrimmage this Saturday, but the Jaguars moved the scrimmage to Friday morning.
Friday’s practice includes an hour of situational work pitting the offense against the defense, followed by an hour of scrimmaging. Most of the scrimmage will feature the third and fourth units, giving those players more repetitions and game film for evaluation.
Saturday’s session, the last practice of the spring, will be held in helmets and shorts and will focus on the tendencies of upcoming opponents.
South Alabama’s 2014 schedule includes a return trip to Kent State, a road game at South Carolina and home games against Mississippi State and Navy. The Sun Belt schedule includes conference newcomers Georgia Southern, Idaho and Appalachian State, along with Georgia State, Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State and Texas State.
